Honouring the Unsung on 68th Republic Day: Padma Awards 2017

As the day dawned on the 26^th of January 2017, there was already a hint of patriotism in the air. The 68^th Republic Day somehow made a promise of a better future, a better time. As always, the Republic Day parade was sensational and impeccable ending with the announcement of the Padma awardess. Around 50,000 people including Indian patriots, children and foreign dignitaries felicitated the occasion at Rajpath.

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the event as guest of honour. A major highlight of the parade was 149-member marching contingent from UAE comprising personnel from Presidential Guards, the Air Force, the Navy and Army, led by a band comprising 35 musicians from the Gulf country. Dubai in turn returned the favour as the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, put on the shades of tricolor to mark the event.

Another show stopper of the event was the display of the ‘black cat’ commandos of the elite counter-terror force National Security Guard (NSG) who also participated in the parade and drew loud cheers from the spectators. Showcasing India’s military prowess were also a number of weapons and aircraft systems, including the Tejas (India’s own supersonic Light Combat Aircraft), on display.

The 90 minute showcase that had Delhi’s tableaux winning everyone’s hearts. Finally President Mukherjee also gave away the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, to Hangpan Dada of Rashtrita Rifles posthumously. Apart from this, 89 people from different walks of life were also awarded with the three of the most prestigious civilian awards – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Sportsperson like Virat Kohli, Deepa Karmakar and Sakshi Mallik won the honour. “It’s a huge honour for me to win the Padma Shri award, the fourth highest civilian award in this country. It’s not just related to sports but it’s an appreciation shown by the whole country. It gives me huge pleasure to receive this award,” said Kohli. Blind cricket team captain Shekhar Naik, who led India to victory in the first T20 World Cup in 2012 and the ODI World Cup in 2014, also received the Padma Shri.

Other celebrities who were seen in the list were the revered musician K.J.Yesudas, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Politician Sharad Pawar, etc. With only 89 people in it, it was one of the shortest lists but definitely one of the meritorious ones. There were some unsung heroes in the pool like the first female Martial Artist adept at the art of Kalaripayatu, Meenakshi Amma. Six people were given the award posthumously while 19 women in total received the awards. Unlike the usual practice of the referral coming from the state and union governments, this time the nominations were picked by the general citizens too. From 5,000 of these, 500 were selected and shortlisted into the now elite list. The felicitation ceremony, in which the awardees will receive a medal and a citation, will be held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in March or April.

Here is the full list of awardees.

Check out last year’s awardees here.

Check the parade highlights here: